fabienne goes abroad

Sunday, 17 November 2013

Switzerland: Zürich/Richterswil

Zürich is the largest city of Switzerland, and the official language is German. The Romans originally called it Turicum when they first settled there in 15 BC. Zürich sits approximately 409m above sea level, and sits about 30km north of the Swiss Alps.

For a more general description about what I did each day, please see the main post:

http://www.fabienne-emilie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/switzerland.html

Friday, 25th October, 2013

Outside the "Lindt & Sprüngli Factory" there were a few of these Lindt Bear Cars.

The "Kunstmuseum" (Fine Arts Museum), which currently houses an exhibition of Edward Munch's artwork, included the most recognisable piece 'The Scream'.

Saturday, 26th October, 2013

The view over "Lake Zürich" from Richterswil, which is approximately 30 minutes south of the town centre of Zürich by metro. Richterswil sits on the western side of the lake, and it is much cheaper to stay there.

The "Swiss National History Museum" is housed in a building dating back to 1898.

The "Swiss National History Museum" building is due to have a new section added in the recent future. From what I saw of the plans, it will be a fairly modern space made up of strange shapes, completely in contrast to the rest of the building, meaning I wasn't too keen on the design.

The "Rathaus" (Town Hall) of Zürich, which juts out onto the river, was built between 1694 and 1698.

The current "Opera" was built in 1891 after the previous building was burnt down.

Switzerland: Bern

Bern, also known as Berne in French, is the 5th most populous city in Switzerland. The official language of this region of Switzerland is German, however the is a Bernese dialect. The town is supposedly named after "bear" because this was the first animal that the founder of the city found while hunting. Bern is approximately 500m above sea level, with the closest mountains being the Gurten and the Bantiger.

For a more general description about what I did each day, please see the main post:

http://www.fabienne-emilie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/switzerland.html

Wednesday, 23rd October, 2013

The main building of the "University of Bern", which was founded in 1834.

The Bern "Kunstmuseum" (Fine Arts Museum), established in established in 1879, is the oldest art museum in Switzerland with a permanent collection. Its holdings run from the Middle Ages to contemporary art.

The "Bear Park" in Bern with a tightrope walking bear above it.

One of the bears in the "Bear Park". The earliest records show that the bears were held in a pit from 1513, but only recently was the large, more open enclosure built for the bears due to a high number of complaints about the conditions the bears were forced to live in.

The "Rathaus" (Town Hall), built between 1406 and 1415.

Thursday, 24th October, 2013

The "Bern Historical Museum", built in 1894. The was one of my favourite museums due to the large amount of things that were inside.

The "Federal Palace", overlooking the river. The building was completed in 1902.

The Swiss Federal Assembly (federal parliament) and the Federal Council are housed in the "Federal Palace of Switzerland".

Construction of the "Bern Münster" started in 1402, however the tower (with a height of 100.6m) was not finished until 1893.

Inside the "Bern Münster", which is a Swiss Reformed Cathedral.

The "Marktgasse" of Bern is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that covers the Old City of Bern; it was first mentioned in records in the 13th Century.

The "Marktgasse" includes a number of different clock towers and fountains. Above is the "Zytglogge", also built in the 13th Century.

The medieval tower which houses the "Zytglogge" has served the city as guard tower, prison, clock tower, centre of urban life and civic memorial.

Further down the "Marktgasse" where a fountain stands outside another medieval tower.

The "Swiss National Bank" sits in the same square as the "Federal Palace of Switzerland".

Fountains outside the "Federal Palace of Switzerland".

Bern Video:

View from the top of the "Münster"

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Switzerland: Lausanne

Lausanne, originally named Lousonna, is another town on the shores of Lake Geneva. It is also part of the French speaking region of Switzerland and is the fourth largest city in the country. As it sits on a slope, the altitude of the region varies between 375m in the south and 900m in the north.

For a more general description about what I did each day, please see the main post:

http://www.fabienne-emilie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/switzerland.html

Monday, 21st October, 2013

Work finished on the "Eglise Saint-Francois" in 1270. The church is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi.

The "Hotel de Ville" was constructed between 1673 and 1675 by the architect Abraham de Crousaz.

The "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne" was built between 1170 and 1240.

"Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne". It was built in a gothic style, though some parts, such as this door were built in a flamboyant style.

The nave of the "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne".

The organ inside the "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne".

The view of the Alps across the lake, from the tower of the "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne".

Me with a view of Lausanne in the background, taken from the tower of the "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne".

The "Château Saint-Marie" was built from 1397 to 1425 by the Bishops of Lausanne to serve as their fortified residence. The top of the building is made out of brick, while the bottom is made from sandstone and has consequently been eroded over time.

Statue dedicated to Major Jean Daniel Abraham Davel, with the quote "That which I have done is not the work of one day; my death will be useful to my country".

"Prefecture"

Tuesday, 22nd October, 2013

The "Palais de Rumine" is a late 19th-century building in Florentine Renaissance style. It is currently used as a Museum of Fine Arts, Archeology and History, Money, Geology, and Zoology.

The "Musée Olympique" is currently being renovated, and as such is temporarily being exhibited on a boat on the lake. It is apparently much smaller on the boat and therefore not everything was shown.

Lausanne, Video:

The view from the top of "La Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Lausanne"

Saturday, 9 November 2013

Switzerland: Geneva

Geneva, spelt Genève in French, is the most populous city in the French speaking part of Switzerland, and the second most populous in Switzerland overall. It is situated on the edge of Lake Geneva, known as Lac Léman in French, which is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe.

The city was originally called Genava; this was derived from a Celtic word meaning a bend in a river or estuary. The town is approximately 375m above sea level, and it is surrounded by the Alps and the Jura mountain chains.

For a more general description about what I did each day, please see the main post:

http://www.fabienne-emilie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/switzerland.html

Friday, 18th October, 2013

Saturday, 19th October, 2013

Taken from the Pont du Mont-Blanc showing the southern side of Geneva.

The "Flower Clock" was originally created in 1955, but has seen numerous design variations throughout the years.

The remains of the "Molard Tower" are a reconstruction from 1591, however the original tower was built in the 14th century. The Tower used to have a view over the lake, and for many centuries was a protective force for Geneva's harbour.

"Saint Peter's Cathedral"

"Saint Peter's Cathedral" contains many different styles as it was reconstructed and renovated during different time periods.

The large columns were added to "Saint Peter's Cathedral" in the 18th Century.

The organ inside "Saint Peter's Cathedral", named The Great Organ. The new organ, inaugurated in 1965, was built by Metzler in Zurich. Pal Andersen of Copenhagen made the case. Situated above the main entrance it has 68 organ stops, four keyboards and one pedal-board. The oldest of former organs dated back to the Middle Ages and was melted down in 1562. It was not used during Reformed services as the psalms were sung without accompaniment. The organ was reintroduced to Saint Peter's in the XVIIIth century.

XVth Century Choir Stalls inside "Saint Peter's Cathedral". Ordered by the bishop or canons and paid for by the Florentine bankers who had settled in Geneva at the time, these stalls reproduce the themes of the apostles' creed or prophetic biblical themes. The stalls have small seats called "misericords" on which the monks could rest discreetly during the service.

Rohan Chapel. The chapel houses the mausoleum and a life-size statue of the Duke of Rohan (1579 - 1638), leader of the French Huguenots. Mortally wounded during the Battle of Rheinfelden (Thirty Years War) his remains were brought to Geneva with great pomp and ceremony and buried at "Saint Peter's Cathedral".

In the tower of "Saint Peter's Cathedral" with a view of the lake behind me. The South tower (1510 - 1530) gives access to the belfry and its five bells and to the watch room where the tocsin is situated. Passing under the steeple, it is possible to access the platform of the North tower, which was rebuilt in the XIXth century; it offers a panoramic view over the city and its surroundings. The North tower houses two bells, La Clémence and La Bellerive, dear to the people of Geneva. The former is rung for significant events in the patriotic life of the city.